Tag: gone too soon

Roy Halladay was one of the greatest baseball players that Blue Jays had ever had on their team. He was all about competent baseball that can best define his successful career, and that is why his demise has been met with shock and awe across the entire baseball fraternity. Halladay, who was popularly known as ‘Doc’, pitched in Toronto for an entire 11 years despite him not making it to the playoffs.

He was a humble man to the core and consistently made efforts to enrich Toronto community in many ways. However, on 7th November, 2017, Holladay’s life was cut short at the age of 40 years when his plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico.

Early Life

Halladay was born in Denver, Colorado, but grew up in the suburbs of Arvada. His father worked with a food-processing company as a pilot while his mother was a typical homemaker. At a tender age, Halladay showed a keen interest in baseball as he trained in every position in the field. However, it was not until the age of 14 years that major baseball scouts noticed him-and this is despite having started training with iconic Bus Campbell at age 13.

Career in Toronto

In 1995, immediately after graduation from high school (Arvada West High-School) he was selected to play for the Blue Jays. Three years later-1998-he was promoted to the major league and this is where he spent most of his career. Halladay’s career in MLB spans a whopping 15 years having recorded an average of 3.38 runs in 416 games; of which, 20 were shutouts and 67 complete games.

Charity Work

In what can be termed as his philanthropic gestures, he was involved in a number of charity events across Toronto. Halladay is credited for having established “Doc’s Box” together with Brandy (his wife)-a suit rented out at Rodgers Center. This is where children from SickKids Hospitals could have time to enjoy together with their families. Furthermore, he is known to offer large donations to different charity organizations with Jay’s Care Foundation receiving $100,000 every year.

Roy Holladay’s death has been received with shock all across board; from family to fans, individual journalists to media conglomerates, and from sports industry to government institutions. This is a man who redefined the sports, stuck with his team during tough times, and left a legacy that will stand the test of time.

It is indisputable that Halladay has left an indelible mark in the history of baseball, and with his efforts he’ll be forever cherished in his fans hearts. As such, he is a Toronto icon that will be remembered for a long, long time.